You'll have to pay to drive to IKEA soon!

The new Belgian motorway tax system to be used instead of a toll has been shelved for another year and will not come into effect until 2014.

14.03.2012

(ADW) The new Belgian motorway tax system to be used instead of a toll has been shelved for another year and will not come into effect until 2014.

The “vignette”, which is currently used in Switzerland and Austria, was due to come into effect in 2013. Due to technical issues the project has now been delayed.

In January 2011, Belgium announced its intention to introduce an electronic tagging system on its motorways in the form of an obligatory windscreen vignette sticker both for Belgian residents and foreigners passing in, out or through the country using the kingdom's motorways. That would mean just a little trip to IKEA over the border will cost you!

This new tax would have normally come into force in 2013, but it seems to be a little delayed. The new Walloon Minister of Public Roadworks, Antonio Di Carlo, now believes it is more likely going to be 2014. "Meetings between regions are taking place, things are progressing well but very technical points remain unresolved," he said.

“We are close to a deal but it is sometimes very technical as to whether it is a tax, or a fee, whether it's a vignette or border control, or is something going to be displayed in the car? It is hoped that by the end of 2012 the three regions will have agreed on the model set up. The launch? This will probably be 2014 instead”, Antonio Di Carlo stated.